Unilever launches new AI-powered talent marketplace

London/Rotterdam - Unilever today announces the introduction of a new internal online talent marketplace, FLEX Experiences, which helps employees push the boundaries of their career by using an AI-powered platform to identify personalised open opportunities across the business, in real time.

Unilever encourages its teams to create capability through lifelong learning, encouraging people to never stop growing. By accessing the platform, Unilever employees can work on projects for a small or large proportion of time, increase the depth of their expertise of a current skill or build new skills and experiences. Through the power of AI, people are suggested opportunities that match their profile and aspirations, and at the same time, giving full visibility to all opportunities available globally across all areas of the business, ultimately democratising and giving transparency to the way the company develops talent.

The technology is powered by Israeli-based startup, InnerMobility by Gloat, which has worked closely with Unilever to create the bespoke platform. Over the past year the platform has been trialled with more than 20,000 employees within Unilever, across 90+ countries, unlocking 60,000+ hours in the last two months alone, and driving increased employee engagement and satisfaction. Full roll-out is expected to be completed by 2020.

Jeroen Wels, Executive VP HR, Unilever, said: “With FLEX Experiences, Unilever is redefining the future of work, creating a flexible, networked, diverse and inclusive organisation which attracts the best talent and inspires the passion and commitment of its people. It is part of our vision to nurture a pioneering culture.

We are driving new ways of working to gain rapid access to the best skills and business ideas available both internally and externally. FLEX Experiences helps people to identify opportunities across the business, in which they can develop new skills and gain experiences in a flexible way. We believe that our people are much more than their job title. If our people thrive, we thrive as a business.”

Ben Reuveni, CEO of Gloat, added: “In today’s competitive workforce, internal mobility is mission critical. 94% of employees say they would stay longer in a company that invests in their career, positioning InnerMobility as the ultimate tool for organisational growth. We have been working closely with Unilever and the Unilever Foundry over the last 12 months to deliver a platform for their employees that will revolutionise how people build a career within the company, unlocking potential and development.

We are helping people seek experiences over experience. Unilever Foundry has been critical to ensuring that we, as a startup in hypergrowth mode, have been able to work collaboratively and effectively with Unilever’s respective business and HR teams to ensure the roll-out to date has been a success. We look forward to supporting Unilever to continue the adoption of FLEX Experiences as we go global.”

For more information please contact:

Where relevant, these actions are subject to the appropriate consultations and approvals.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'will', 'aim', 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'looks', 'believes', 'vision', or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Unilever Group (the 'Group'). They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.

Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Among other risks and uncertainties, the material or principal factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are: Unilever's global brands not meeting consumer preferences; Unilever's ability to innovate and remain competitive; Unilever's investment choices in its portfolio management; inability to find sustainable solutions to support long-term growth; the effect of climate change on Unilever's business; customer relationships; the recruitment and retention of talented employees; disruptions in our supply chain; the cost of raw materials and commodities; the production of safe and high quality products; secure and reliable IT infrastructure; successful execution of acquisitions, divestitures and business transformation projects; economic and political risks and natural disasters; financial risks; failure to meet high and ethical standards; and managing regulatory, tax and legal matters. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 and the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018.